vii, 776 pages : 27 cm

In this Age of Genetic Engineering and global warming, it is more important than ever to understand the history and current trends of science and technology. With so much information out there, though, it's hard to know where to start. That's where The History of Science and Technology-the most comprehensive and up-to-date chronology of its kind-comes in. From the first stone tools to the first robot surgery, this easy-to-read, handy reference book offers more than seven thousand concise entries organized within ten major historical periods and categorized by subject, such as archaeology, biology, computers, food and agriculture, medicine and health, and transportation. You can follow the world's scientific and technological feats forward or backward, year by year, and subject by subject. Under 8400 BCE "Construction," you will discover that the oldest known wall was built in Jericho. Jump to 1454 "Communication" and you will learn about Johann Gutenberg's invention of movable type. Take an even larger leap to 2002 "Computers" and find out about the invention of the Earth Simulator, a Japanese supercomputer. The History of Science and Technology answers all the what, when, why, and how questions about our world's greatest discoveries and inventions: How are bridges built? When were bifocal eyeglasses invented and by whom? What medical discovery led to the introduction of sterilization, vaccines, and antibiotics? What is the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) process, and why is it one of the pillars of the biotechnology revolution? Not only can you discover how our world came to be and how it works, but with cross-referenced entries you can also trace many intricate and exciting connections across time. Highly browsable yet richly detailed, expertly researched and indexed, The History of Science and Technology is the perfect desktop reference for both the science expert and the curious reader alike

Includes bibliographical references (pages 720-721) and index

Science and technology before scientists : through 599 BCE -- Science and technology in antiquity : 600 BCE through 529 CE -- Medieval science and technology : 530 through 1452 -- The Renaissance and the scientific revolution : 1453 through 1659 -- Scientific method : measurement and communication : 1660 through 1734 -- The Enlightenment and the industrial revolution : 1735 through 1819 -- Science and technology in the 19th century : 1820 through 1894 -- Rise of modern science and technology : 1895 through 1945 -- Big science and the post-industrial society : 1946 through 1972 -- The information age : 1973 through 2003

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